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Salem and the surrounding area is better protected and better prepared for the next big flood because millions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure improvements since 1996.

Bridges have been rebuilt. River and stream banks have been stabilized. Water systems have been enhanced.

But is it enough?

“We’ve made a lot of good progress,” said Dennis Sigrist, state hazard mitigation officer for Oregon Emergency Management. “There will still be disasters, but I think the impacts will be less.”

Oregon has a long history of flooding because of its climate and habitat. Prolonged rainfall causes rivers and streams to overflow, and more severe flooding occurs when rainfall is augmented by snow melt. The combination has been deadly and costly over the years, from the 1903 flood that took the lives of 247 people to the 1948 flood that wiped out the entire city of Vanport.

The February 1996 flood caused a reported $280 million in damages across Oregon, including $65 million identified as damage to public infrastructure. Bridges were undermined, riverbanks overrun and water systems burdened. Twenty-seven of 36 counties were declared federal disaster areas, including Marion and Polk.

State, county and local authorities coped with the cleanup and rebuilding process, with help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. More improvements were needed in the aftermath of the 2012 flood, along with more federal assistance.

But government officials warn residents that it's virtually impossible to build our way completely out of harm's way. They count on residents taking some measure of disaster preparedness.

Oregon Emergency Management is the state agency responsible for coordinating and facilitating emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery. It also is the liaison with FEMA, which emphasizes mitigation plans to lessen the impact of disasters.

The National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System, for example, is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum standards. The system determines reductions in flood insurance premiums.

John Williams (foreground) leads a purebred Arabian horse to safety from a flooded field about 5 miles west of Scio as the home's owner, Jo Ramsey, follows during the 1996 flood. Statesman Journal file

A tanker truck loaded with milk is awash in flood waters after it plunged into a giant hole created when a section of Parker Road washed away early Tuesday morning, Nov. 19, 1996, near Independence, Ore. Three people were rescued from the washout after their cars plunged into the chasm before the road could be blocked off. (AP Photo/Statesman Journal, Gert Zoutendijk) AP file photo

Residents make way for floodwaters. Heavy rains forced residents to cope with flooding for the second time this year. They ferried household goods to higher ground, tried to travel flooded streets and kept an anxious eye on rising waters. Esa Korkeakoski of Turner helps move his mother's belongings to a U-Haul truck during flooding in 1996. Statesman Journal file

Coastal areas near Tillamook were some of the hardest-hit as floodwaters in February, 1996, rushed toward the Pacific Ocean, swamping farmland. Dairy farmers suffered some of the greatest losses, with production for that month down 12 percent from February 1995. Statesman Journal file

A boat for emergency evacuation is moored in the front yard of Jim Trimble (left), who watches floodwaters edge toward the front door of his house on Jakewood Court NE in Keizer during the 1996 flood. With him are neighbors Walt Hall (center) and Tim Tornow. Statesman Journal file

Volunteer Karen Sarbeck, left, leads Loren and George Hernandez with their children, Wilton, Gabriela, Tony and Elizabeth to the Red Cross shelter at Keizer's Whiteaker Middle School during the 1996 flood.
Statesman Journal file

David Lux carries his shoes as he wades to a neighbor's house to borrow a canoe. Lux borrowed the canoe so his family could use it to leave their home on Breyman St. NE, which was surrounded by floodwater from Mill Creek in 1996. Statesman Journal file

Mark Duvore and Emil Susee of the waste water division of the public works department check their progress while opening a spillway on the millrace near the Duck Inn Restaurant during the 1996 flood.
Statesman Journal file

Mike Strasser's family, led by Aleta and David Strasser (from left), barricade their Keizer home with sandbags before evacuating to stay with friends during the 1996 flood. Family members took their three Labrador retrievers and their 10 puppies. Statesman Journal file

Salem is a participant. The city has accrued points in four categories — public information, mapping and regulations, flood damage reduction, and warning and response — to earn a CRS rating of Class 6. For residents, that translates into a 20 percent discount on flood insurance premiums. City officials have an application pending that would increase the discount to 25 percent.

If you live in or near the floodplain in Salem — which covers approximately 5,000 acres — you should be aware of the risks. The city sends an annual letter to the 3,000 or so property owners in the area, notifying them of the risks and informing them of what is being done locally to mitigate those risks.

The city estimates about 33 percent of those property owners have flood insurance, which is better than the national average. Sigrist of Oregon Emergency Management estimates 20 percent of property owners nationally who live in high-risk flood areas have flood insurance.

It's a gamble to not have flood insurance. Based on reports from 1996, the amount of damage to personal property such as homes and cars was more than three times the amount to public infrastructure.

Sigrist encourages people to have flood insurance, although he understands not everyone can afford the rising premiums. He lives in West Salem just outside the floodplain and has flood insurance.

“I practice what I preach,” he said, noting that he has a preferred risk policy with a better rate through a private insurance company than FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program.

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Floodwaters pour through a break in a sandbag dike near the former Oregon Women's Correctional Center, which had to be evacuated during the 1996 flood.(Photo: Statesman Journal file)

Future flooding is inevitable. Infrastructure will fail. While eight bridges in Salem have been replaced or significantly rehabilitated since 1996, many of the 49 other bridges within city limits are aging and may not survive the next flood. Improvements made in one area could put strain on infrastructure in another.

Salem is flood-prone during the wet weather season because of the Willamette River and a network of 21 streams. The largest, Mill Creek, slices through the heart of the city.

Two systems new to the city’s flood defense since 1996 are the Salem Community Alert System and Mid-Willamette Valley High Water Watch.

The Community Alert System enables the city to communicate with thousands of residents within minutes of an emergency, whether it be flooding or another kind of emergency. Residents can receive time sensitive messages on their home, mobile or business phones, and by text or email.

Mid-Willamette Valley High Water Watch is an early flood warning system that features a network of stream and rain gauges scattered through the 111-square-mile Mill Creek Watershed. It provides minute-by-minute data — nonexistent 20 years ago — for forecasting flooding. Marion County and the cities of Turner, Aumsville and Stayton are partners on the project.

The system has been augmented since the 2012 flood, thanks to a FEMA grant. Additional gauges were purchased and installed in the upper area of the watershed, and existing gauges were upgraded to report in real time.

“We are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were,” said Justin Boyington, stormwater monitoring analyst for the city of Salem.

While the system can’t prevent floods, it can provide more lead time to prepare. Public works officials can mobilize staff sooner, and residents can fill sandbags earlier.

7. Stream Cleaning Program: Katelyn Wright (center) carries a bag of garbage along with a child's car seat while Carly Wilson (right) carries a metal folding chair while working with the Stream Cleaning team in Shelton Ditch, near 25th Street NE, in 2008. Statesman Journal file

8. The High Street Bridge, which spans Mill Creek in Salem, has been reparied. The project was completed in November of 2015 and repaired underwater structural damage to the bridge and installed erosion protection measures. Photographed on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. DANIELLE PETERSON / Statesman Journal

8. The High Street Bridge, which spans Mill Creek in Salem, has been repaired. The project was completed in November of 2015 and repaired underwater structural damage to the bridge and installed erosion protection measures. Photographed on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. DANIELLE PETERSON / Statesman Journal

9.Floodgates: A floodgate is in place at the entrance to the basement parking area of the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs building in preparation for flooding from nearby Mill Creek on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. CAPI LYNN | Statesman Journal

13. The Winter Street Bridge, which spans Shelton Ditch near Salem Hospital, is now a single-span bridge. The old three-span bridge was severely damaged in the January 2012 flood. Photographed on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Salem, Ore. DANIELLE PETERSON | Statesman Journal

14. Mid-Willamette Valley High Water Watch: Justin Boyington, storm water monitoring analyst for the city of Salem, shows a stream gauging station near Salem Hospital which is part of a new flood warning system. Photographed on Monday, April 21, 2014. DANIELLE PETERSON / Statesman Journal

14. Mid-Willamette Valley High Water Watch: A tipping bucket rain gauge is located on a roof along Turner Road SE. An upgraded flood warning system is being installed by city of Salem work crews and city contractors. DANIELLE PETERSON / Statesman Journal

14. Mid-Willamette Valley High Water Watch: Water levels at Mill Creek near North Salem High School on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015. A flood warning has been issued for Salem until Monday afternoon and a flood watch is in effect through Wednesday afternoon. ANNA REED / Statesman Journal

17. Battle Creek Basin: The city of Salem made stream channel improvements along Waln Creek and Battle Creek to provide flood storage. Submitted by public works department on Feb. 4, 2016. Special to the Statesman Journal

20. Geren Island Water Treatment Facility:The North Santiam River flows over Upper Bennett Dam at Geren Island Water Treatment Facility, on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at Stayton. Efforts have been made to expand and modernize the facility since the 1996 flood.Total cost of facility improvements was $36 million. BRENT DRINKUT/Statesman Journal

20. Geren Island Water Treatment Facility: The North Santiam River flows into the middle intake area at Geren Island Water Treatment Facility, on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at Stayton. Statesman Journal file

The Salem Public Works Department Emergency Preparedness has flood warning information available that can be accessed by calling (503) 588-6211, or during an emergency through its website at: http://www.cityofsalem.net/. Marion County Roads Department has a hotline that features road conditions, road closures, and road hazards. Call (503) 588-5304, or check its website at: http://www.co.marion.or.us/.

Following is a list of important considerations that should be followed during times of flooding:

Prepare an evacuation plan: Before the floodwaters hit, develop an evacuation plan among all members of a household that includes a meeting place outside of the house, as well as an escape route out of the floodplain and away from floodwaters.

Do not walk through flowing water: Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is still there.

Do not drive through a flooded area: More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Do not drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out.

Stay away from power lines and electrical wires: The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to Portland General Electric or the County Emergency Management Office.

Shut off gas and electricity and move valuables upstairs: Be prepared in advance with a detailed checklist because warning of an impending flood may provide little time for preparation prior to evacuation.

Look out for animals, especially snakes: Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn things over and scare away small animals.

Look before you step: After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris, including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery.

Be alert for gas leaks: Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Do not smoke or use candles, lanterns or open flames unless you know that the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated.

The city of Salem public works department monitors stream levels and rainfall in near real-time from a number of sites across the city and throughout the Mill Creek Watershed. The data is available on the Mid Willamette Valley High Water Watch website at hww.onerain.com. The site also provides links to regional National Weather Service alerts and forecasts, Doppler weather radar imaging and additional information about flood preparation.